October 23rd 2077
08:45am
Clam Gulch outside Anchorage.
Captain Jacob Chance
The scope was clouding slightly with each breath but Jacob knew he could make the shot. The target was looking around while working at something beside the train track but he would never spot the camouflaged sniper. Jacob was sure the man was planting an IED, he thought this because anytime a Canadian came near the tracks it wasn't to do some train spotting.
Jacob adjusted for windage and squeezed the trigger. In a split second the man was face down in the snow while his brain bled out of a newly formed hole in his face.
Captain Jacob Chance was getting bored of Alaska, of the cold, of the long patrols and most of all of the Canadian terrorists that kept planting IEDs and taking pot-shots at US troops. It had been almost ten months since the US forces had driven back the Chinese but they where still in a state of high alert. The Canadian resistance had kept up their sabotage operations and the US command responded with a brutality Jacob felt was a mistake. When he joined the army "hearts and minds" had meant something, things had changed, now suspected resistance members where being shot in the street without trial. Jacob couldn't get 100% behind that but he knew it was necessary for the future of his country and unfortunately it's true what they say war never changes, it's always about the strong imposing their will on the weak.
"Good shot." said his spotter, Lieutenant Buck York.
"Thanks I'm getting pretty bored of whacking hosers in the dome though. No sport in it anymore."
Suddenly both men heard a low rumble that grew into a mighty roar that broke the stillness of the Alaska morning.
"What the fuc.." York said as he looked around the landscape for the source of the noise.
Jacob told York to be quiet when he spied the source. He was looking south towards Point Anchor across the water when he saw a long black tube piercing into the white cloud filled sky.
"What the hell is that?" York asked but before Jacob could answer two more tubes reached up into the sky followed by three more. Having seen enough Jacob pulled the radio close and quickly turned it on. Suddenly the radio exploded into noise as hundreds of voices where scrambling over the net. Jacob punched in a frequency and hoped he would get an available operator.
"Control this is Yellow 13, come in control for Yellow 13. Pirority 1." He was speaking as clearly as possible to avoid a misunderstanding but had never been more terrified.
"Go for Control, Yellow 13."
"We have a suspected nuclear missile launch at location Echo, Echo, Delta. Missile in the air. Repeat Code Black we have a Missile in the air."
The radio was silent before the operator returned.
"We know its one of ours."
October 23rd 2077
08:51am
New York City, Good Morning NYC News Room.
Marty Phelps
"Ok Will, so then you say 'to play us out we have Dean Domino's latest track.' Ok?"
Marty knew the Will O'Neill didn't get it, Marty knew this because Will was a moron.
"What does that mean 'To play us out'?" Will said with a look of utter confusion.
"It's another way of saying to the end the show." Marty explained.
"Now to play us… It doesn't feel right, nobody says that." Will's confusion was turning to anger. He didn't like Dean Domino, apparently there had been some altercation between the two men over a singer at the Clique Club in New York but that was just a rumour. Truth was they were both a couple of assholes caught up in a pissing contest. A pissing contest that as going to ruin Marty's show.
He was about to try to explain it another way to the petulant Will when he heard a shout from one of the runners called Sam. Seeing Sam made him calm down a little she had long blonde hair that naturally fell into a peek-a-boo, she made pencil skirts look excellent and most important of all was smart. The other quality Marty found endearing was she hadn't slept with Will despite his best efforts. To a man like Will that was a great wound to his pride. The thought always made Marty smile.
The smile faded though as he approached the young woman.
"What's up Sam?"
"This just came in over the wires… It's incredible."
Marty reached for the sheet she was holding.
From: Section 13- ADVANCE WARNING GROUP.
To: All commercial tv and radio stations.
Nuclear warheads have been detected heading for the us mainland stop in accordance with the reddaker plan all commercial tv and radio stations are being commandeered by the us governmenet as of 9am October 23rd 2077 [stop]
This is not a drill find appropriate shelter and do impede military personel from their appointed tasks. [stop]
May god have mercy upon you [stop]
"Jesus…" was all Marty could muster. He was at a loss there had been drills before but never with this notice. Maybe it was another drill… or maybe not. In either case this was something Marty had to deal with.
"FUCK IT! WE'LL DO IT LIVE!" Will's bellow echoed from across the set. It snapped Marty out of his confusion and shock. He saw Sam looking at him her eyes pleading, hoping for him to help. Marty reached out and touched her shoulder.
"It'll be ok. I'll work this out." He said hoping to reassure himself as much as her.
Marty walked over the set and called the crew together.
"No Marty I want to deal with the goddamned line now." Will was in a strop because of his explosion over the line.
"Not now." Marty said but he didn't get to continue.
"YES NOW MARTY, I DO…"
"SIT DOWN AND SHUT THE HOLE IN YOUR FACE OR YOUR ASS IS OUTTA HERE!" Marty screamed. A deep silence fell over the room that was the first time Marty had lost his temper in long time, given his history of anger management problems. Marty turned his back to Will and took a deep breath. He then faced the group of staff that had formed in front of the news desk.
"Sorry I lost my temper there it's just I have some very important news. I have just received a message from the government. The contents of which informed me that this station along with every other station in the United States will fall under government control in less than five minutes. This is because nuclear warheads have been detected travelling towards the US. The message also assured me this was not a drill. For that reason there will be no show today."
He looked at the faces but nobody said anything.
"Uh… You may leave now." Marty said. Slowly at first then, quickly people went for the doors.
